In the middle of the slum, in a neighbourhood called Makina, a group of proactive women created the “Stara Rescue Center” a special place of protection and education for orphans and street children. “Stara” is a phrase in Swahili and its full meaning is “If you insist on your way, you´ll have peace in the end”.

In 1994, the women began a self-help group called “Stara Peace Women Organization.”  In 2007, the UNO Information Centre in Nairobi described one of them, Josephine Mumo, as the driving force behind the Stara Project.

Link to the information center of the UNO in Nairobi here.

The centre began in 2000 with half a dozen street children.  Today, around 550 children aged from 4 to 18 years are cared for through a daily program of food and education.

Almost two-thirds of the children are orphans and some are infected with HIV. Others are half-orphans in a precarious situation, with one remaining parent suffering from AIDS or an alcohol addiction. Some are abused, some are neglected.  During our visits we have heard children say, “Stara is my only safe place.”

Education is provided in 9 classes with about 50 children in each, as well as a Kindergarten class. The children can take public exams in order to progress to higher levels of education.

The children have almost nothing but their soul and spirit.  But one senses the collective will they have to improve their situation. Josephine Mumo, other members of the management team and the teachers all themselves come from the slums. Some teachers are lost from time to time when they move on to teach at schools outside of the slum. The cooks and social workers also come from Kibera.

In 2012, a major fire spread through the complex most probably the result of a short circuit in a high voltage power line. It took only two to three weeks for order to reappear from the devastation. Whatever could be salvaged was cleaned and restored. Metal roofs and walls were reassembled into classrooms and teaching continued. This episode provided a good measure of the resilience and the “spirit of Stara”: never give up.

The driving force of Stara – and our main point of contact – is the founder, Josephine Mumo, in whom we have great confidence.  The project has gained recognition among UN Organisations, such as the World Food Program and also by the Swiss Authorities.